Carry As You Climb

About Carry As You Climb

Carry As You Climb is the podcast that will share stories of women leaders, how they got there, and who they brought up along the way. This podcast is devoted to talking to women leaders across Ohio and the nation. Episodes are hosted by Nan Whaley and will feature women leaders from different sectors – from politics to non-profits to business.

Publisher

Nan Whaley

Category

news

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

26 Mar 2019

Latest episode

6 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

53 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   6 Oct 2026

   Are We Required to Do It This Way? Miami Mayor Eileen Higgins on Faster Government and Challenging the Status Quo

   What happens when a leader stops accepting “because we’ve always done it that way” as an answer? Eileen Higgins didn’t take a conventional path to becoming mayor of Miami. She spent two decades in the private sector, served in the Peace Corps and as a U.S. diplomat, and represented Miami-Dade County before becoming Miami's first woman elected mayor. In this episode of Carry As You Climb, Nan Whaley sits down with Eileen at the U.S. Conference of Mayors to talk about bringing an engineer’s instinct for problem-solving into City Hall, and why changing government sometimes starts with asking a surprisingly simple question: Are we actually required to do it this way? From cutting through bureaucracy to building more housing and leading through criticism, this conversation is about challenging the systems you inherit while staying grounded in who you’re trying to serve. And yes, Ohio gets a small claim on her: Eileen was born at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton. Conversation Highlights: Question “the way we’ve always done it”: why Eileen asks whether a process is actually required, and what happened when her administration applied that thinking to permits that once took far too long. Fix the process before blaming the people: what Eileen looked for in a city manager and why she believes better systems can help good employees do better work. Lead through the loudest objections: how Eileen thinks about opposition to housing and other changes, and what a controversial road project taught her about sticking with a decision long enough to see whether it works. Know why you’re doing the work: from being the only woman at an oil refinery to public service in Miami, how Eileen developed the thick skin to hear criticism without letting it determine her values or priorities. Resources Mentioned: Office of Mayor Eileen Higgins, City of Miami (https://www.miami.gov/My-Government/City-Officials/Mayor-Eileen-Higgins) Elevate Small Business (https://elevatesmall.biz/), City of Miami Miami Dade College (https://www.mdc.edu/) Miami Tech Works (https://miamitechworks.org/) The CLEO Institute (https://www.cleoinstitute.org/) Peace Corps (https://www.peacecorps.gov/) U.S. Conference of Mayors (https://www.usmayors.org/) About Our Guest: Eileen Higgins is the Mayor of Miami and the first woman elected to lead the city. Before becoming mayor in 2025, she served seven years on the Miami-Dade County Commission. Trained as an engineer, Higgins also worked in the private sector and served as a Peace Corps Country Director and a U.S. diplomat before entering local government. As mayor, her work includes housing, infrastructure, neighborhood services, small businesses, and improving city government performance. About the Host: Nan Whaley is a longtime community leader and public servant. She's currently the CEO of Planned Parenthood of Southwest Ohio. She served as Mayor of Dayton, Ohio, from 2014-2022. Nan has also presided over the United Conference of Mayors. She's a feminist, daughter, aunt, sister, and friend. About the Show: Carry As You Climb elevates the voices of women in leadership from Ohio and across the United States. The podcast features guests who not only bust through doors to lead but also hold the door open for more women behind them. In other words, they carry as they climb. We focus on leadership development and lessons in leadership. We also share personal experiences to inspire more diverse leaders in business, government, and the nonprofit sector. Connect with Carry As You Climb Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/nanwhaley/) | Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/carryasyouclimbpod/) | TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@nanwhaley) | Twitter (https://x.com/nanwhaley) | LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/nanwhaley/) Stay up to date with Nan's Substack: substack.com/@nanwhaley (https://substack.com/@nanwhaley) Join the Climb: If this conversation moved you, share it with someone who needs to hear it, subscribe to Carry As You Climb, and leave a rating or review wherever you listen. Produced by: Collective Change Communications - Kelly Sakalas & Jeni Keeler Note: The opinions expressed by host Nan Whaley on this podcast are hers alone and do not represent any organization with which she is affiliated.

2. 

   2 Oct 2026

   Where Can I Have More Impact: Lauren McLean on Growth, Hard Conversations, and Knowing When to Lead

   How do you know when you can have more impact by stepping into something bigger? Lauren McLean never planned to live in Boise, let alone become its mayor. But throughout a career spanning conservation, philanthropy, and public service, one question kept pushing her toward the next chapter: Where can I have more impact? In this episode of Carry As You Climb, Nan Whaley sits down with fellow mayor to talk about following that question all the way to Boise City Hall, and what Lauren has learned since getting there. From housing and hard public meetings to mentorship and listening across generations, this is a conversation about knowing when to step forward without losing sight of why you started. Conversation Highlights: Follow the impact: how one question guided Lauren from conservation advocacy to City Council, and eventually to challenging an incumbent mayor. Listen for what’s underneath the anger: why Lauren reframes heated public comments as people showing how deeply they care about their home. Make room for the next generation: what Boise’s youth council, internships, and conversations with young people are teaching Lauren about how leadership is changing. Take the small things seriously: what Lauren learned from her mentors about being yourself, responding to the needs in front of you, and never forgetting a thank-you note. Resources Mentioned: Women's and Children's Alliance (https://www.wcaboise.org/), Boise NewDEAL (https://newdealleaders.org/) Idaho Conservation League (https://idahoconservation.org/) U.S. Conference of Mayors (https://www.usmayors.org/) Athletic Club Boise (https://acboise.com/) Margo's Got Money Troubles (https://bookshop.org/search?keywords=Margo%27s+Got+Money+Troubles+Rufi+Thorpe) by Rufi Thorpe Parks and Recreation Ted Lasso Welcome to Wrexham Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird's 2019 Carry As You Climb episode About Our Guest: Lauren McLean is the 56th mayor of Boise, Idaho, and the first woman elected to the role. Her public service began with the 2001 Boise Foothills Open Space Levy campaign, followed by eight years on Boise City Council before becoming mayor in 2020. Now serving her second term, her work as mayor has included housing and homelessness, open-space conservation, and climate initiatives. She is on the Board of Governors at Andrus Center for Public Policy at Boise State University and serves as Vice Chair of Climate Mayors. The Aspen Institute and New Deal Leaders recognized Mayor McLean as one of the nation's most promising young political leaders, and she was selected to participate in the 2020 Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative on Economic Recovery. About the Host: Nan Whaley is a longtime community leader and public servant. She's currently the CEO of Planned Parenthood of Southwest Ohio. She served as Mayor of Dayton, Ohio, from 2014 - 2022. Nan has also presided over the United Conference of Mayors. She's a feminist, daughter, aunt, sister, and friend. About the Show: Carry As You Climb focuses on elevating the voices of women in leadership from Ohio and across the United States. The podcast features guests who give special attention to not only busting through doors to lead but also holding the door open for more women behind them. In other words, they carry as they climb. We focus on leadership development and leadership lessons. Plus, we share personal experiences to inspire the inclusion of more diverse leaders in business, government, and the nonprofit sector. Connect with Carry As You Climb Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/nanwhaley/) | Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/carryasyouclimbpod/) | TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@nanwhaley) | Twitter (https://x.com/nanwhaley) | LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/nanwhaley/) Stay up to date with Nan's Substack: substack.com/@nanwhaley (https://substack.com/@nanwhaley) Join the Climb: If this conversation moved you, share it with someone who needs to hear it, subscribe to Carry As You Climb, and leave a rating or review wherever you listen. Produced by: Collective Change Communications - Kelly Sakalas & Jeni Keeler Note: The opinions expressed by host Nan Whaley on this podcast are hers alone and do not represent any organization with which she is affiliated.

3. 

   24 Sept 2026

   Ready or not: Rose Lounsbury on Running for Office, Staying Curious, and Doing the Next Hard Thing

   What do you do when the next hard thing is something you never imagined yourself doing? Rose Lounsbury never planned to run for office. But after getting more involved in her community and growing frustrated with her representation at the Statehouse, she looked for someone who might challenge the incumbent. Someone turned the question back on her: “Do you wanna run?” Rose pulled petitions the next day. In this episode of Carry As You Climb, Nan Whaley talks with her longtime friend about what happened after Rose said yes, and what she’s learning as she runs for Ohio House District 36 for a second time. From staying curious when conversations get uncomfortable to finding resilience when the work gets hard, this is a conversation about moving forward before you feel completely ready. You don’t have to see the whole path. Stay curious, know what matters, and do the next hard thing. Conversation Highlights: Stay curious: at the door: how a doorstep conversation that started with disagreement found common ground - and why Rose would rather ask another question than win an argument. Know it, then lose the notes: Rose and Nan on public speaking, connecting with an audience, and why fewer words can make a stronger point. Start with what matters: what Rose’s work in minimalism taught her about stripping away distractions and making decisions with purpose. Build the stamina for hard things: how raising premature triplets shaped Rose’s resilience, and why sleep, food, and knowing your limits are part of sustaining the work. Resources Mentioned: Rose for Ohio (https://www.roseforohio.com/) — Rose's campaign website Follow Rose: Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/roseforohio/) | Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/roseforohio) | TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@roseforohio) | LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/rose-lounsbury-43554a141/) "How Many Towels Do You Need?" — Rose Lounsbury, TEDxDayton (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlA7qgySO0I) Suffs, the musical (https://suffsmusical.com/) Iron Jawed Angels (2004) Yesteryear (https://bookshop.org/search?keywords=Yesteryear+Caro+Claire+Burke) by Caro Claire Burke About Our Guest: Rose Lounsbury is the Democratic candidate for Ohio House District 36. A former public school teacher and the daughter of two retired teachers, she is also a business owner, TEDx speaker, and author of Less: Minimalism for Real. Rose first ran for the Ohio House in 2024, receiving 47.63% of the vote, and is running again in 2026 to protect public education, voting rights, and affordability for working families. About the Host: Nan Whaley is a longtime community leader and public servant. She's currently the CEO of Planned Parenthood of Southwest Ohio. She served as Mayor of Dayton, Ohio, from 2014 - 2022. Nan has also presided over the United Conference of Mayors. She's a feminist, daughter, aunt, sister, and friend. About the Host: Nan Whaley is a longtime community leader and public servant. She's currently the CEO of Planned Parenthood of Southwest Ohio. She served as Mayor of Dayton, Ohio, from 2014 - 2022. Nan has also presided over the United Conference of Mayors. She's a feminist, daughter, aunt, sister, and friend. About the Show: Carry As You Climb focuses on elevating the voices of women in leadership from Ohio and across the United States. The podcast features guests who give special attention to not only busting through doors to lead but also holding the door open for more women behind them. In other words, they carry as they climb. We focus on leadership development and leadership lessons. Plus, we share personal experiences to inspire the inclusion of more diverse leaders in business, government, and the nonprofit sector. Connect with Carry As You Climb Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/nanwhaley/) | Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/carryasyouclimbpod/) | TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@nanwhaley) | Twitter (https://x.com/nanwhaley) | LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/nanwhaley/) Stay up to date with Nan's Substack: substack.com/@nanwhaley (https://substack.com/@nanwhaley) Join the Climb: If this conversation moved you, share it with someone who needs to hear it, subscribe to Carry As You Climb, and leave a rating or review wherever you listen. Produced by: Collective Change Communications - Kelly Sakalas & Jeni Keeler Note: The opinions expressed by host Nan Whaley on this podcast are hers alone and do not represent any organization with which she is affiliated.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

9 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

5 ratings

Contact Carry As You Climb

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.